Summary

Requires the House Office of Congressional Conduct to write a formal standard for determining when a Member’s failure to “behave at all times in a manner that reflects creditably on the House” is caused by a significant and irreversible cognitive impairment, and to report that standard to the House Committee on Ethics within 180 days. The Committee on Ethics must adopt the OCC’s standard or issue an equivalent one within 90 days of receiving the report, and must also draft and publicly post guidance so House employees can safely and confidentially report concerns about a Member’s mental capacity.

Key Points

• Requires the House OCC to create a written standard tying certain conduct issues to significant, irreversible cognitive impairment.
• OCC must report its proposed standard to the Committee on Ethics within 180 days.
• The Committee on Ethics has 90 days after the OCC report to adopt or issue an equivalent standard.
• Committee of Ethics must create and publicly post guidance so House employees can safely and confidentially report concerns about a Member's mental capacity.
• Allows OCC to consult congressional offices and outside experts while developing the standard.
• Does not itself mandate medical exams, removal, or penalties—focuses on definition, process, and reporting guidance.
• Aims to balance identification of cognitive impairment in Members with protections for staff who report concerns.

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